May 7

We leave in one week!!! Its been so busy around here, I can't believe we leave in a week. I still only have one bag packed, still need to find a good travel bag, still need to get laundry done, still need to get cleaning done, and the list goes on. I take the two that will be traveling with me today to the doctor for thier travel appointment. I know we should have done this awhile ago but you do what you can when you can.
Praying for our little girl, praying she ready for this crazy transition into our family.  The kids are so excited to have her home soon. Her crib is up and her dresser is in her room. I will be setting up her first doctor appointment today, for when we get back.
I still need to get so many things done. One day at a time, trying to set a goal for each day. Laundry was yesterday , today is appointments and to redo my training packet. I did all 27 pages and my computer crashed and deleted it, ughh. Like anyone wants to have to redo 27 pages.  Oh well.....I guess I got to get it done.
Have a blessed day. Please pray for our travel and pray we all stay well. We have a couple kids with colds at home now and one using a inhaler.

My baby's birthday

Yesterday was a hard day. Elle turned 3, it's hard think she spent the day without us. We are so close to travel and my heart aches to have my baby in my arms. Counting down minutes till she is forever a Questad.  I have plenty to keep me busy but my mind and heart is half way acrossed the world. Her bag is packed and repacked. Having her always on my heart keeps me in constant prayer for her. Praying she transition into our family and our family transition quickly to having her home. If I could have gotten on a plane the day we had approval I would have.  The process of adopting is so long and hard, but worth ever minute. Over the last year our lives have changed preparing for her, her life hasn't changed. She knows nothing of her adoption and that someone is coming for her.
It's funny how when you look at your own adoption into God's family. We had know idea the big picture of what was going on. We couldn't see how God patiently waited for us to accept our adoption into His family. We couldn't see the Love God had for us.
I love that adoption has always pointed me back to God and what He has done for us. Adoption has taught me so much over the years. About grace,  love , forgiveness and has shown me over and over how much the Father has loved us. Has loved us through the healing times in our lives and through our stubborn times. The times we have refused to trust , refused to accept His love, refused to believe that His plan for our lives were what's best.
I can't thank the Lord enough for loving me and meeting where I am at . Allowing me time to heal and loving me through the hard times. And giving me a example everyday how to love those around me.

Puzzle fundraiser

We have some pretty awesome friends doing a puzzle fundraiser for us. The puzzle will reveal Elle's full name, and her home town. I have copied and paste her post here.


See this picture on the left? That there, my friends, is a puzzle of an adorable lil girl named Ellie...who is on the right, and who will SOON, like in 2 weeks!!!, be coming home to her new family, the Crystal Benjamson Questad fam!
We are doing a PUZZLE fundraiser for them, to help meet the final costs of their adoption.
You can HELP by buying one or many puzzle pieces, $10/piece, your name will go on the back of each piece you purchase AND your name will go into a drawing for a give-away gift when the puzzle is complete. We have 4 neat gifts to give away!!
There are 250 pieces to this puzzle...let's see how fast we can get er complete!
The Questad's leave for China in just a few weeks...let's join together and bless their socks off so they have less to worry about financially as they prepare to go get their girl! Isn't she a gem??
Please make your payment via PAYPAL to scquestad@aol.com and if you can, shoot me a message (maleigh23@yahoo.com) telling me how many pieces you bought so I can make sure your name goes in the drawing THAT many times!
Questions? Don't hesitate to ask!
And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE share this on your page!!! GO QUESTAD'S! WE LOVE YOU!!

Superman tee shirts

We are doing one more round of orders for the Superman was Adopted shirts so let me know if you’d like 1 (or 10!) 
These are super cute, everyone just loved them. We decided to do one more round. Email me if you would like one or more. There is red, blue , black and pink. Adult sizes s, m, L, xl, xxl. Childs sizes s,m,L and toddlers sizes 2T, 3T, 4T, 5/6 toddlers do run a little small.
$22.95 each, including shipping
Scquestad@aol.com

We're leaving on a jet plane!

13 days we leave!!! That's not a whole lot of time to gather everything up. But its just perfect, we will have our baby in our arms May 12. Forever a Questad! We are thrilled to have our travel dates and appointments all set up. God is good!! We will purchase our tickets today and get all our paper ready to go. our agency sets up all our hotels and travel appointments. Making travel much easier. We have our visas and passports , everything is a second :)
I guess I better go get packing! Have a great day, you we will!

Travel Approval!!!!

I can't believe that we got travel approval! We are beyond excited! we have waited just over 14 months to get the call. We are now waiting to confirmed travel dates and  for a consulate appointment. We have picked  a day and our agency has requested that day for us, now we wait to see if we get it. Once that happens we buy our plane tickets! We will then have a confirmed gottcha day for our baby girl. It's been a whirl wind of a day and we can't wait to hear back from our agency. They are saying we should know by Thursday.
Our house was buzzing with energy at the news. We have a bit more fast fundraising to get done . Ya, I know planning travel dates and fundraising. But oh well it will all get done in His time. He always finishes what He has started.
I have to say looking through Elle's clothes and trying to decided what to take is the fun part. Praying we bring the right size, if not I guess we go shopping or she wears clothes that are a little big. Either way she will be just perfect.
Praying for provision for travel. Making list in my head as I drive my kids to and fro. Wishing I had brought paper and pen along(side note to self put them in my van). making plans for the kids that will be home with grandma and auntie. Making more lists of groceries that I need to buy, but un fruitfully because I didnt have a pen and paper. Making list of stuff I need to clean before I go, and projects I would love to have done. But even with all that even if none of my endless list get done, my little girl will be home. In our arms forever and I am sure she won't care if my spring cleaning never got finished. My mom may care if I don't get groceries but Elle won't mind a little mess here and there. It's funny the more busy I feel the more mess my house feels and I know it hasn't changed since I lasted looked by it just feels that way. Any way enough rambling. Love you all and thank you all so much for your support! This couldn't have happened with your willingness to say yes. Praising the Lord for His love for our little girl and for picking us to be her family. 
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Genesis 1:31a I love this verse, God laid this verse on my heart after our first adoption , I had it painting above our family photos because He made this family and indeed it was very good. Feeling blessed beyond measure.
Good night!

Waiting for TA

Crazy, we finally gotten this close. The average travel approval takes two weeks. As every adoptive parent you want to beat average,  praying for a week or there about. I watch the big adoption boards seeing who got what and when, counting numbers over and over again. Looking at packing list and wondering what I need before we go. We are still praying for provision for travel, leaning on the Lord, that He always finishes what He started. He blessed us with two successful fundraisers this last week and we have a couple more to go.
My baby girl turns 3 this Saturday,  I am sad I wont be there. I know she doesn't know what day it is but I do. I wanted to be there for her birthday. Next year....I bought a stroller for her. A birthday gift of sorts.
God , always thinks of the little things. We had bought a few things for her but unsure of what size to really get. But God blessed us with two friends who gave us enough clothes to dress her till she is in a size 2T.
God has a plan for each step of this journey and we are praying He shows us which way to go. Each little detail He cares about.
We are plenty busy running kids to and fro.  7 kids in sports this spring has made time speed up. I love watching each kid play. Somedays things are moving way to fast for me to keep up and other days I am counting down minutes. 
I should go get kids ready for school, and check my email for the 100th time this morning.  Have a blessed day.

Our auction

Our auction is up and running.  Be sure to stop by and bid! Here are some pictures of items on our auction.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/268413099973674/